A Visual History of Batman and Superman’s Costumes Over the Years

For a superhero, a costume isn’t just any outfit, but represents who they are and what they stand for. From spandex to capes to military-grade armor, the distinctive looks of our favorite crusaders of justice have continued to evolve on screen over the years. Ben Affleck’s Dark Knight doesn’t look anything like Adam West’s Batman from the ‘60s, and Henry Cavill’s Man of Steel has undergone a modern upgrade since Christopher Reeves’ Superman arrived on screen.

With Justice League hitting theaters in just a few short days, were looking back on the history of Batman and Superman’s costumes from the movies. In our latest video essay, ScreenCrush’s Ryan Arey breaks down the many variations of the superheroes’ suits over the years, and how each costume designrepresents its respective film. Look back with us and marvel at the colorful, nippled armor from BatmanForever and the realism of Christopher Nolan’s Caped Crusader.

If you enjoyed our DC costumes video, stay tuned for more Justice League videos to come all week long. Be sure to subscribe to the ScreenCrush YouTube channel to catch all our future episodes. And you can watch more of ScreenCrush’s videos below!